Ice creeper



Aug. 19, 1947. HOV'VARD' ICE CREEPER Filed Jan. 50, .1946

Patented Aug. 19, 1947 ATES ICE CREEPER Charles Lowell Howard, Winnetka, Ill.

Application January 30, 1946, Serial No. 644,253

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ice creepers and has for its main object to provide an efilcient, simple, inexpensive, and attractive appearing device which may be easily held. upon and withdrawn from a shoe and. which. is adjustable to fit different sized footwear. A particular object of this invention is to provide an anti-slip device which not only grips the ice in a novel manner and prevents slipping of. the shoe in any direction, but also is provided with novel means whereby the creeper itself is prevented from movement relative to the shoe in any direction. A further object of the invention is to provide reinforcement for that part of the creeper which is most subject to wear. 7

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed description.

Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe with theice creeper located thereon under the ball of the foot.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one form of the invention.

Figure 3 is an end view of the invention including a finger grip and Fig. 4 is a bottom view of Fig, 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged. perspective view of one of. the anti-slip metallic members or cleats, and Fig. 6 is a front view of a cleat.

In the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, A represents a strip of leather, belting or other durable material comprising the body of the creeper, the body portion having a front edge a and a rear edge 12. The strip A encircles the shoe X as shown in Fig. 1 adjacent the ball of the foot except for a short distance on top of the shoe where it is joined by an adjustable means or member, such as elastic material B by staples C or stitching or otherwise. Or, if preferred the durable, flexible body portion may be made of material which would permit the adjustable means to be made integral therewith, the words durable material being meant to include any material which is strong and flexible but not of a nature to stretch sufficiently to interfere with the attachment thereto of cleats to be described later.

From the above, it will be seen that the body portion A and adjustable member B form a continuous loop as shown in Figs. 2 and. 3 with the durable portion contacting the shoe outsole X, the sides of the shoe and a portion of the top of the shoe, the remaining portion of the shoe being contacted by the adjustable member. The adjustable member B assists in permitting the loop to be expanded easily to encircle shoes of different widths and also assists in holding the creeper upon the shoe, no additional parts such as clamps, thumb screws or the like being required.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, a portion of the strip A which contacts the outsole X of the shoe is preferably provided with a plurality of transversely spaced metallic members such as cleats shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, each cleat having two heads D joined by a neck E. Integral with each head are formed downwardly extended projections G capable of being bent in difierent directions adjacent the under side of the body portion A, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and when so bent the projections constitute a multiplicity of ice gripping elements. These bent projections provide gripping elements covering a considerable area of the under-the-sole portion of the creeper and being bent in different directions, as particularly shown in Fig. 4, constitute anti-slip members of high efficiency.

As shown in Fig. 2, preferably four spaced cleats are employed arranged transversely of the strip, with the ends of the cleats located adjacent the edges a and b of the strip to reinforce said edges to prevent them from curling during the use of the creeper.

In the neck portion E is an opening having upturned edge providing a rim F and when the creeper is placed around the shoe, Fig. 1, and is in use, the rims F indent themselves slightly in the sole of the shoe and, together with the adjustable means B, prevent movement of the creeper in any direction relative to the shoe sole and the bent projections G penetrate the icy surface and prevent the foot from slipping upon the ice in any direction. It will also be seen that the cleats are well secured upon the body of the creeper and cannot move thereon in any direction.

' In the manufacture of the device as a whole, it will be seen that a strong, durable, light weight, comfortable and neat appearing device is pro- Vided with a minimum amount of metal as compared to anti-slip devices with plates or chains or other metallic elements subject to bending or breakage and which require time and expense to make and assemble.

The cleats being separated one from the other by a flexible portion of the creeper body, there is provided a certain amount of flexibility of the creeper when used upon uneven surfaces and also, if clogged with ice during use the creeper may be flexed to detach the ice therefrom. Moreover, in the use of creepers employing plates with upper and lower prongs, for instance, the plates provide a slippery surface when the prongs are bent against; the plate or broken off and consequently the very purpose of the creeper is nullified. In the use of the present invention, without plates, this danger is avoided and as a further advantage the device may be folded compactly and conveniently carried in a pocket. By using a body portion of durable, sturdy material, the cleats do not become loosened as would be the case if the body be made of ordinary, stretchable rubber.

The upstanding rims F are of sufficient height to indent themselves slightly in the sole of the shoe but not of a size to cause damage to the sole leather. It is clear from the above description and the drawings that the rims F engage the shoe sole in a manner which prevents forward, backward and sidewise movement of the shoe with respect to the creeper body.

For use by women and children, the creeper may have secured to its adjacent the adjustable means, a rigid, waterproof finger grip in the form of a pompon Y, Fig. 3, bow or flower or the like.

In withdrawing the device from a shoe, the wearer grips the element Y by the fingers and pulls upward and then forward. By the use of the element Y the fingers do not contact the creeper and, therefore, are prevented from becoming soiled. In addition to the utilitarian function of the finger grip, an added decoration is afforded the creeper.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that this invention has a combination of advantages, such as the following:

First, the invention provides a light weigh, neat appearing and comfortable anti-creeper and requires no separate parts, such as thumb I screws or the like, to hold it in position. Nor does it include anti-skid plates or chains or the like to become out of order when the creeper is 1n use.

Second, the invention, while made of strong, durable material, is adjustable to fit different width footwear and is flexible throughout and does not interfere with normal walking.

Third, the edges of the flexible creeper body are reinforced by the metal members and will not curl or fold as would be the case where the body portion made solely of ordinary rubber or other stretchable material.

Fourth, the invention is provided with a plurality of simple, efficient and inexpensive onepiece cleats to prevent the creeper slipping upon the sole of the shoe in any direction and to permit the creeper to firmly grip the ice in all directions and includes means to prevent the cleats themselves from turning on the creeper body.

Fifth, the device has no separate or detachable parts to adjust or get out of order or to be lost, and consequently the article is ready for use at all times.

Sixth, the device being made chiefly of durable,

flexible material with a minimum amount of metal, it may be flexed to free the device of clogged ice and may be folded compactly and conveniently carried in a pocket.

Seventh, the device being provided with a finger grip as heretofore shown and described may be withdrawn from the shoe with a minimum amount of danger of soiling the fingers.

Eighth, the device being of very simple construction and requiring no complicated shoe attachment means or metal plates, etc., it may be inexpensively manufactured.

From the foregoing description and advantages, it will be seen that the anti-creeper of this invention is fully capable of accomplishing all the purposes expected of an article of its class and in so doing does away with parts heretofore considered necessary and hence it is simple in construction, eificient in operation and cheap to manufacture.

While I have described the body of the creeper as being made of leather or belting material, it is understood of course that any suitable material may be employed provided it is durable, flexible and will not stretch to interfere with the attachment of the cleats thereto. Also, I do not limit myself to the exact means herein shown and described to provide adjustability of the device to permit it to be fitted to footwear of different widths and to assist in holding the creeper upon a shoe, it being understood that any equivalent means for the purpose may be employed. Nor do I limit myself to the exact form of cleats shown and described. Any type or number of metallic members capable of performing the intended functions of the invention may be substituted. That is, it is considered as coming within this invention to employ in the combination any form of metallic member that may be firmly secured in place, which has an anti-slip surface adapted to indent itself in the sole of the shoe and projections adapted to penetrate an icy surface.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a body portion of durable, flexible material adapted to underlie the sole of a shoe and contact the sides of the shoe, adjustable means associated With said body portion, said body portion and adjustable means together forming a loop adapted to encircle shoes of different widths, a plurality of spaced unitary metallic members secured to the body portion underlying the sole of the shoe, said unitary members each having a raised portion adapted to be indented in the shoe sole and having a plurality of projecting portions inserted through said body portions, said projecting portions of each member being bent to lie in different directions with respect to said body portion and adapted to penetrate an icy surface.

2. In a device of the class described, a strip of durable, flexible material forming a body having portions adapted to underlie the sole of a shoe, contact the sides of the shoe and overlie a portion of the top thereof, said strip having ends joined by an adjustable member, said strip and member thus forming a continuous loop adapted to fit around shoes of different widths, a plurality of spaced metallic members secured to the body portion transversely thereof and underlying the sole of the shoe, said members each having two head portions joined by a neck portion, projections extending from each head adapted to be bent to secure the member upon the creeper body and to provide a plurality of means lying in difierent directions to penetrate an icy surface and an upstanding portion integral With the neck adapted to indent itself into the sole of the shoe.

3. In a device of the class described, a body portion of durable, flexible material adapted to underlie the sole of a shoe and contact the sides of the shoe, adjustable means associated With said body portion, said body portion and adjustable means together forming a loop adapted to encircle shoes of difierent Widths, a plurality of spaced metallic members secured to the body portion underlying the sole of the shoe, said members each having a raised portion adapted to be indented in the shoe sole and a projecting portion adapted to penetrate an icy surface and finger grip means secured to the loop adjacent said adjustable means.

CHARLES LOWELL HOWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,518,217 Polm Dec. 9, 192 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 Number Country Date 1,518,217 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1929 

